'I fought cancer by quitting carbs': Father with terminal brain tumour claims high-fat diet of meat and dairy is the reason he's still alive

  • Dave Bolton was told he had a Glioblastoma Multiform 4 brain tumour
  • It is known by doctors as 'The Terminator' for its low survival rates 
  • He decided to cut out carbs and sugar and ate meat, dairy and fat instead
  • A scan revealed in June revealed there was not much of the mass left
  • He claims his change in diet alongside chemotherapy shrunk his tumour
  • But doctors warn there is no firm evidence such a radical diet is effective 

A father-of-two who was given a year to live claims ditching carbohydrates and eating 2,200 calories of fat a day has shrunk his terminal brain tumour.

Last July, Dave Bolton, 35, was given 12 months to live with treatment - or three months without - when doctors informed him of his cancer. 

The former police officer, from the Wirral, Merseyside, had a Glioblastoma Multiform 4 brain tumour (GBM4) – known as 'The Terminator' for its low survival rates. 

But in June this year, doctors told him there was not much of the mass left - and he claims his change of diet is responsible.

Dave Bolton, 35, was diagnosed with a Gliobastoma Multiform 4 and was given 12 months to live last July. But he claims cutting out carbohydrates and sugars is the reason his mass had dramatically shrunk when doctors scanned his brain in June this year

Dave Bolton, 35, was diagnosed with a Gliobastoma Multiform 4 and was given 12 months to live last July. But he claims cutting out carbohydrates and sugars is the reason his mass had dramatically shrunk when doctors scanned his brain in June this year

He decided to cut out carbs, sugar and most fruit and vegetables from his diet, opting instead chose to eat more meat, dairy and fats. 

The theory behind his decision was to follow a ketogenic diet – which some believes stops feeding tumours, despite many doctors saying there is no evidence the diet will help the battle against cancer. 

Consultant oncologist Professor Karol Sikora told MailOnline: ‘There’s no evidence alternative therapies work. A lot of people believe they work and that is the problem.

‘I would recommend having conventional treatment, and then by all means, have alternative therapies as well if you really like, but don’t replace the former with the latter.’ 

Combining both is the route Mr Bolton, a former world champion kickboxer, has chosen.

He said: 'After my diagnosis all these thoughts were running through my head - I wondered whether I would ever be able to walk my daughter down the aisle or watch my son grow up.

'I believe the diet, my attitude, supplements and a host of other alternative treatments alongside conventional treatment have reversed my cancer.

'I shouldn't be here now, but at my last scan the tumour had all but gone apart from a few cells.

'When the doctors told me the tumour had almost disappeared I came out and cried - but for once they were tears of joy.

The father-of-two, from the Wirral, Merseyside, underwent a nine-hour brain operation to remove as much of the tumour as possible

The father-of-two, from the Wirral, Merseyside, underwent a nine-hour brain operation to remove as much of the tumour as possible

Mr Bolton knows he hasn't been cured – but believes he will still be alive in 10 years time.

He added: 'People always ask me how I stay so positive, but for me it's the only way to live.

'Although it may shock some people, in a way I am thankful for this tumour as it has given me a better outlook on life.

'I have more time with my family - before I thought I needed to make money so my kids could have whatever they wanted, but really they just wanted me at home.

'It has taught me not to take life for granted as it can all be taken away from you in a blink.

'All I want to do now is use my horrific situation to help others and give them hope you can beat a terminal diagnosis.'

After his operation, he underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for six weeks. This was followed by six-month long cycles of intensive treatment. After this finished in December 2015, he began to follow the ketogenic diet - which some believe to work by cutting out sugars and carbs which 'feed' cancerous cells

After his operation, he underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for six weeks. This was followed by six-month long cycles of intensive treatment. After this finished in December 2015, he began to follow the ketogenic diet - which some believe to work by cutting out sugars and carbs which 'feed' cancerous cells

Mr Bolton, who is married to Sam, 34 (far right) and father to Josh, 11, (left) and eight-year-old Halle (middle right), said: 'I thought I needed to make money so my kids could have whatever they wanted, but really they just wanted me at home'

Mr Bolton, who is married to Sam, 34 (far right) and father to Josh, 11, (left) and eight-year-old Halle (middle right), said: 'I thought I needed to make money so my kids could have whatever they wanted, but really they just wanted me at home'

Mr Bolton is father to Josh, 11 and eight-year-old Halle and married to 34-year-old Sam.

Despite being extremely fit and healthy, in May 2014 he suffered a violent 15-minute seizure in the middle of the night.

After being rushed to hospital, doctors discovered a sizeable tumour in the frontal lobe of his brain.

He jokingly named his tumour 'Terry', and underwent surgery a month later at The Walton Centre for Neurology in Liverpool to remove as much of it as possible.

But in July 2015, a routine scan revealed the mass had not only returned but had become a GBM4 - one of the most aggressive brain tumours known to doctors.

Mr Bolton underwent a second nine-hour brain operation to remove as much of the tumour.

His most recent scan, in June this year, revealed there was not much of the mass left

In July 2015, a routine scan (left) revealed the mass had not only returned but had become a GBM4 - one of the most aggressive brain tumours known to doctors. His most recent scan (right), in June this year, revealed there was not much of the mass left

Mr Bolton also claims regular exercise, keeping calm and taking supplements helped him to beat his prognosis

Mr Bolton also claims regular exercise, keeping calm and taking supplements helped him to beat his prognosis

He then underwent six weeks of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

This was followed by six month-long cycles of intensive treatment at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Birkenhead.

And after his treatment ended in December last year, he began following the ketogenic diet.

He agreed to take part in The Walton Centre's clinical feasibility study on the effects of the regime on four patients already undergoing chemotherapy.

The diet, developed in 1924 for epilepsy patients, meant forgetting his diet in favour of meat, full-fat dairy products, nuts, lettuce and tomatoes.

Mr Bolton now consumes a minimum of 120g of fat a day - totalling 2,200 calories - 90g to 130g of protein and just 20g of carbs through fruit and vegetables only. 

And he claims the ketogenic diet has even given him more energy than he had before his diagnosis.

Mr Bolton said the ordeal has taught him to not take life for granted as it can all be taken away in just a blink

Mr Bolton said the ordeal has taught him to not take life for granted as it can all be taken away in just a blink

Mr Bolton said: 'I shouldn't be here now, but at my last scan the tumour had all but gone apart from a few cells'

Mr Bolton said: 'I shouldn't be here now, but at my last scan the tumour had all but gone apart from a few cells'

It is believed to work by fuelling the body with ketones, a by-product of the fat converted in the liver, rather than carbohydrates and blood sugars.

Mr Bolton also claims regular exercise and keeping calm helped him to beat his prognosis.

While he also believes supplements such as frankincense oil and myrrh oil aided his treatment. 

He said: 'It completely changed my diet as I used to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and love bread - the rest of my family still eat a normal diet, and our food bill has definitely rocketed.

The former kickboxer now consumes a minimum of 120g of fat a day - totalling 2,200 calories - 90g to 130g of protein

The former kickboxer now consumes a minimum of 120g of fat a day - totalling 2,200 calories - 90g to 130g of protein

'But what I have realised is that you still have to live your life and once or twice a month if it is a special occasion I will eat what I want.

'As long as I don't go crazy I can get back into ketosis within one or two days.

'I don't believe there is one cure for cancer but a multitude of approaches are needed to defeat it.

'This is what has worked for me, but everyone is different and no cancer is the same.'

A spokesman for The Brain Tumour Charity said the charity does not currently campaign for the ketogenic diet to be more widely available as a treatment for brain tumours because its efficacy is yet to be proven in a robust clinical trial.

But they said it welcomed any new findings on how diet can have an impact on the treatment of a brain tumour or the quality of life of those with a brain tumour.

Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of The Brain Tumour Charity, said: 'We are delighted to hear that Mr Bolton is doing well.

'We know there are not enough effective drug treatments for glioblastoma, which is why we are committed to investing millions of pounds in research into the disease.

'But we would urge anyone who is considering the ketogenic diet to talk to their doctor first, to ensure there are no reasons why it might cause them further health problems.'

A spokesperson for The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust said: 'There is no evidence to suggest the diet will cure brain tumours. 

'With the support of our dietician we ran a feasibility clinic for four brain tumour patients in addition to conventional treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.'

WHAT IS THE KETOGENIC DIET AND CAN IT TREAT CANCER? 

The ketogenic diet is being used experimentally to help a few adult brain cancer patients control their seizures. 

Many cancer patients also switch to a diet high in fruit and vegetables in the belief it can help them fight the disease.  

The diet involves cutting carbohydrate intake to a minimum — no more than an ounce a day.

Out go pasta, rice, sugar, cakes and biscuits; fruit and vegetables are the main carbohydrates.

Many cancer patients are switching to the ketogenic diet - which involves eating lots of protein, fruit and vegetables but cutting out carbohydrates - in the belief it will help treat their disease

Many cancer patients are switching to the ketogenic diet - which involves eating lots of protein, fruit and vegetables but cutting out carbohydrates - in the belief it will help treat their disease

Patients eat generous amounts of fats, such as olive oil, butter and coconut oils, and normal amounts of protein — meat, fish and eggs.

The idea is to keep carbohydrates low enough so the body starts producing ketones as an alternative energy source — these are produced by the liver from body fat. 

Tumours thrive off a high glucose supply, so cutting carbs lowers blood sugar, reducing their fuel source, advocates claim.

They say the ketones that the body produces to replace glucose as an energy source can be used by healthy cells, but can’t be used by cancer cells.

But Cancer Research UK has been cautious about possible benefits of any diet on cancer.

And Professor Tim Key, of Oxford University’s cancer epidemiology unit, says the evidence for this sort of diet is ‘weak’. 

Consultant oncologist Professor Karol Sikora also says there is no evidence diet will cure cancer.

He told MailOnline: ‘There’s no evidence alternative therapies work. A lot of people believe they work and that is the problem.

‘I would recommend having conventional treatment, and then by all means, have alternative therapies as well if you really like, but don’t replace the former with the latter.’ 

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